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WORLD FOOTBALL

    Michel Platini Comments on Racism, Euro 2016 in Exclusive Fox Sports Interview

    Matt Fitzgerald@@MattFitz_geraldX.com LogoCorrespondent IIIOctober 9, 2014

    UEFA President Michel Platini speaks during the opening session of UEFA's Respect and Diversity conference against discrimination in European soccer, in Rome, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014. Platini has promised a ruling from the organization's disciplinary body over an alleged racist comment by the Italian football federation's new leader. Carlo Tavecchio, a long-standing executive in Italian football, was elected president last month despite causing a stir over a reference to bananas when discussing the presence of foreign players in Italy. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)
    Riccardo De Luca/Associated Press

    UEFA president Michel Platini spoke about several pertinent world football issues Thursday in an exclusive interview with Fox Sports' Rob Stone.    

    FoxSports.com documented the key quotes from Platini, which included commentary on the state of Euro 2016 and how he is handling disciplinary matters regarding racism.

    Platini, a former attacking midfielder and a French football superstar, is remaining on as the sixth UEFA president, largely due to the fact that France is slated to host Euro 2016.

    "It was a question of FIFA and UEFA, and I decided to stay in UEFA because there is more football in UEFA, there is the Euro in France, my country, there is the Euro 2020, which is a tough project. So it was my decision to decide this way, to stay in UEFA," said Platini.

    With regard to rampant racism in certain nations, Platini is committed to taking action on those responsible, as opposed to penalizing the clubs or players on the pitch:

    We have done a lot and we continue to do. ... There is a lot of racists in some countries, and we try to punish the people, we don't try to punish the club, we don't try to punish the players. We try to punish these stupid fans who come to the stadium to insult people who are not the same color as themselves. And that is not right, and we do our best to punish the people [involved].

    The president acknowledged that FIFA's image has taken a hit with regard to the process of choosing the World Cup. In a September report filed by Michael J. Garcia, allegations of corruption hit the next two sites in Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022).

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    "[The perception of FIFA] is not good because there is a lot of problems with corruption," said Platini. "If the report of Mr. Garcia show that Qatar's bid was corrupt, we have to come back to the rotation, and have another rotation."

    FIFA president Sepp Blatter has declared that he will not publish the report containing corruption accusations.

    Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) has even called for Garcia's report to be published:

    Senator Bob Casey @SenBobCasey

    Full transparency is required given the investigative reporting and widespread allegations of improper payments. http://t.co/nx4WQ2JI8D

    But Platini will be busy with UEFA affairs, so he won't be directly involved in the push for FIFA to be more public about its dealings with the World Cup.

    Implementing concussion policies and eliminating match-fixing are matters Platini plans to address, along with Champions League expansion, where he hopes as many as 20 clubs can have a shot at the trophy.

    All the issues that Platini mentions could be addressed in an intertwined sort of way. Setting a prime example with UEFA with groundbreaking concussion policies to look out for players' safety would garner widespread respect, for one.

    Broadening the breadth of the Champions League would also help proliferate competition among those previously left out of the exclusive, top-flight tournament.